Wine Training and classes
Training Program
Wine Mastery For
Hospitality Professionals
"Finally, a training course designed to empower those working with wine to be equipped with knowledge and elevated practical skills when serving experiences for guests."
- Ashley C. F&B / Montage
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Recommended For:
- All Hospitality Professionals
- Hotel/Resort Banquet & Conference Service Teams
- Food & Beverage Professionals
- Restaurants
- Wine Bars & Tasting Rooms
- Current & Future Sommeliers
1. How it works
We designed our TIER ONE/ LEVEL ONE & TWO training course (For COMPANIES / BRANDS in the U.S. ) to meet you and your team where you are. We bring all of our resources directly to you, offering hands-on guidance and training through practical application. Our setup is straightforward, as we collaborate with your in-house team to ensure the session is organized comfortably for all learning styles. On the day of your session, your instructor will guide you through focused modules filled with interactive opportunities. You can choose from two module sets based on your level of commitment.
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Tier Two / Level One: Coming in January 2025 - (For PUBLIC ) Geared towards ALL Wine professionals ALL interests​
Our Tier Two / Level One training course will be an ongoing module over the course of 3 weeks with dedicated modules that will be offered both in person and virtually. It will be a deeper more intensive dive into the world of wine and will focus on where other courses may have been lacking.
2. what is included
We offer two levels of commitment, each featuring in-depth modules that build on one another like a ladder of learning.
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The Levels:​
Completion of TIER ONE / LEVEL ONE Certification is required before attending any additional levels. See Below.
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TIER ONE / LEVEL TWO is an optional add-on that can be scheduled on a separate date, allowing your team to dive deeper into areas such as wine inventory management, wine menu development, and more. See Below.
​For Companies / Brands in the U.S.
Seven modules = One Day Training
Duration: 7 hours
tier one / level one
Curriculum Overview
​MODULE ONE - Introduction to Wine
- History of Wine
- Basics of Viticulture and Winemaking
- Major Wine Regions of the World
MODULE TWO - Understanding Wine Varietals
- Key Grape Varietals and their Characteristics
- Comparative Tasting of Major Varietals
- Influence of Terroir on Wine Profiles
- Understanding Wine Labels and Terminology
- Trends and Innovations in the Wine Industry
MODULE THREE - Wine Tasting Techniques
- The Art of Wine Tasting
- Identifying Aromas, Flavors, and Textures
- Wine Tasting Exercises and Group Discussions
MODULE FOUR - Wine and Food Pairing
- Principles of Pairing Wine with Food
- Interactive Pairing Sessions with Menu Items
- Special Considerations for Banquets and Events
MODULE FIVE - Wine Service Excellence
- Proper Wine Storage and Handling
- Techniques for Opening and Serving Wine
- Enhancing Guest Experience with Knowledgeable
- Recommendations
MODULE SIX - Guest Interaction and Sales Skills
- Effective Communication and Presentation
- Upselling Techniques and Enhancing Revenue
- Handling Guest Inquiries and Complaints
MODULE SEVEN - Practical Application and Assessment
- Role-Playing Scenarios and Real-Life Situations
- Mock Service Exercises
- Knowledge Assessment and Certification
Session Pricing
TIER ONE / LEVEL ONE
$350
per person
​ $250 per person
- 7 Module One Day Training Course
- Led by expert Advanced Sommelier​​​ & team
+
$100 Course Materials per person
- Printed 90 + page booklet with inserts, notes, diagrams, maps, tasting notes, lesson plans
- Tasting Mats, Notebook, and Certification ​
tier one / Level two
​​For Companies / Brands
​Three modules = Half day Training
Duration: 4.5 hours
Curriculum Overview
MODULE EIGHT - Creating a Wine Program: Current State of the Union
- Wine Menu / Beverage Package audit with insights
- Learn to build a Wine List/ Menu /Beverage package for Restaurants / Outlets / Banquets
- Standards & processes of menu considerations (including vintage exit strategies)
MODULE NINE - Inventory Management, Wine Processes & Upselling Assets
- Inventory Bottle Management processes for pre/during/ post event use
- Techniques for upselling wine inventory opportunities
- Refining internal inventory reporting practices and best practices
- Learn how to extract valuable guest data and determine wine demands needs & sourcing solutions
MODULE TEN - Wine and Food Pairing Intensive
- Dive deep into wine & food pairing scenarios with practical application
- Discover flavors & aromas through a practical experimentation session featuring a wine and food tasting
- Learn to analyze menus for smart food & wine pairing selection
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Session Pricing
TIER ONE / LEVEL TWO
$450
per person
​ $350 per person
- 3 Module Half Day Training Course
- Led by expert Advanced Sommelier​​​ & team
+
$100 Course Materials per person
- Printed 115 + page booklet with inserts, notes,
diagrams, maps, tasting notes, lesson plans
- Aroma & Flavor Accoutrements
- Tasting Mats, Notebook, Certification
Full Package Pricing
TIER ONE / LEVEL ONE & TWO
$700
per person
​ $600 per person (Save $100pp)
- 10 Module 1.5 Day Training Course
- Led by expert Advanced Sommelier​​​ & team
+
$100 Course Materials per person
- Printed 115 + page booklet with inserts, notes,
diagrams, maps, tasting notes, lesson plans
- Aroma & Flavor Accoutrements
- Tasting Mats, Notebook, Certification
3. What can I expect?
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Expert Instructors: Led by Advanced Sommeliers and industry veterans with extensive experience in wine education and hospitality.
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Hands-On Learning: Practical exercises, interactive tastings, and real-world scenarios and role playing activities to ensure skills are effectively applied.
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Customizable Content: Tailored modules to meet the specific needs and goals of different hospitality venues.
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Certification: Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the program, signifying their advanced knowledge and skills in wine service.
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Ongoing Support: Access to continued education resources and support from our team of wine experts.
For more information and interest, click on the 'book now' link below to fill out the onboarding questionnaire. Once received an email confirmation with payment link will be sent.
Now Enrolling for January 2025
tier two / level one
​For PUBLIC
Foundations of Wine: A Global Exploration
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​ Three modules
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Duration: 3 weeks / 23 Hours
​Week 1: Old World Wines & Theory
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Introduction to Old World Wines (1.5 Hours)
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France (1.5 Hours)
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Italy (1.5 Hours)
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Spain & Portugal (1.5 Hours )
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Germany & Austria (1.5 Hours)
​Week 2: New World Wines & Regional Focus
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Introduction to New World Wines (1.5 Hours)
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United States - California, Oregon, Washington, etc. (1.5 Hours)
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Australia & New Zealand (1.5 Hours)
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South America (1.5 Hours)
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South Africa (1.5 Hours)
​Week 3:Advanced Tasting, Food Pairing, and Blind Tasting
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Wine Faults and Flaws (1.5 Hours)
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Food & Wine Pairing (1.5 Hours)
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Blind Tasting Techniques (1.5 Hours)
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Regional Deep Dives (1.5 Hours)
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Capstone Tasting & Final Exam (1.5 Hours)
$1150
per person
IN PERSON + ONLINE HYBRID COMBO Student
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Perfect for those students that want to to commit to one or more in person location classes but still have the freedom to learn away from the classroom setting.
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Students who would like to learn in person can view the location schedule and register for in person dates that apply
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Access to downloadable module content
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Access to live virtual sessions will also be available
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If joining in person, wines and glassware will be provided for all students
Online Only Student
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This is an ideal situation for the student that has moving schedule
and wants to stay nimble to not commit to in person but have the
modules all at their fingertips on their own time.
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All classes are offered as ONLINE courses for those students that
would like to remotely participate
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Access to downloadable module content
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Access to live virtual sessions will also be available
• Wine 'wish list' sent prior to classes
• Students are not limited to location based learning
$750
per person
We are now taking reservations for this course as it will fill up quickly!
For more information and interest, click on the 'book now' link below to fill out the onboarding questionnaire. Once received an email confirmation with payment link will be sent.
Class Description
"Foundations of Wine: A Global Exploration" - This class highlights a comprehensive approach to building wine knowledge, regional focus, and practical tasting. It conveys the program’s structured progression from Old World to New World wines and its focus on foundational skills like blind tasting, pairing, and advanced tasting and regional insights.
Schedule
2025 Sessions Dates & Times: Jan 13 - Feb 28, 2025 Each Week classes will begin from 6pm - 7:30pm (approx) and will be held on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Thursday A recorded video of each session will be sent out @ 9pm following each class. Optional Capstone Tasting with Exam: February Date TBD
Inclusions
Your class registration fee includes: - 1.5 hours of live class with Advanced Sommelier Lamar Engel of The Wine Militia and other industry-leading instructors - Guided tasting of 8 wines per week carefully curated by The Wine Militia Team. - Tasting kit creation (for Hybrid Students) and wine buy list (for online participants) - Recording of each class session - Downloadable session notes and slide presentation
Class Format Options
We have a few options for your in class participation. To view the various options that may pertain to your accommodation, please review the options below. The in class formats are as follows: 1/ Hybrid - In-Person/Online Options Our hybrid classes offer the flexibility to join either online or in-person at a venue facility that will be announced. For online participation participate live online via Zoom. Both in-person and online participants enjoy the same wines and have the opportunity to interact with instructors and fellow students during the sessions. Recordings are made available directly after the each session. In-Person Location In-person locations to be announced early January 2025. Online Participation You will receive a Zoom link calendar invite and notes via email. Please reach out to our admin at events@thewinemilitia.com if you have not received the materials within 1 business day of the class or event. For those Online students using a tasting kit, kits can be picked up at our Office in Irvine, CA or delivered across the United States from our shipping partner. Participants in locations where kits cannot be delivered will receive a list of wines to source locally. View pickup and delivery options here. Each kit includes detailed wine lists and instructions to guide your experience.
Requirements
All attendees must be 21 years of age or older to participate.